Government confirms new 1,500 place free school for secondary students in Peterborough

Joel Lamy

A new free school which will accommodate 1,500 pupils is to open in Hampton, it has been officially announced.

The government has confirmed today (Monday, March 9) that the Hampton Gardens Free School will open its doors in September 2017.

Free schools give pupils the chance to attend an excellent local school.

Nicky Morgan

The secondary school will be led by the Hampton Academies Trust, the group who run Hampton College.

The two schools will work closely together, sharing teachers and facilities and offering GCSEs and vocational courses across sites.

The appointment of the Trust was made between Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council.

The school will cater for pupils in Hampton, Yaxley and Farcet where there is a growing need for places.

The city council announced plans for the new school in July 2014.

It stated that the school would be built on land currently owned by O & H Hampton in an area known as Hampton Garden, formerly known as Hampton Lees.

It added that the school would provide places for 1,200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and 300 sixth-form students.

The new free school is one of 49 today which have been announced, including six in the East of England.

Free schools are run independently of the local authority.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Delivering the best schools and skills for young people is a crucial part of our long term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain.

“Free schools set up by teachers, parents and community groups are not only outperforming other schools but they are raising the performance of those around them, meaning more opportunities for children to learn the skills they need to get on in life.

“These new schools are an important part of our plan to improve education by raising standards and restoring discipline so our children can compete with the world’s best and enjoy a better future.”

“They are providing more choice than ever before to parents and ensuring that children have access to a high quality school place and the best possible education that prepares them for life in modern Britain.

“With the total number of approved free schools now rising to more than 400, the demand from parents, charities and education experts to set up the schools has proven the programme to be one of the most important modern drivers of social mobility.

“Today’s announcement sends a clear sign that children for generations to come will be able to benefit from a place in a free school.”